Russia is using its few fighter jets MiG-35 to intercept Ukrainian drones that enter its territory, according to Militarnyi based on a publication on the Telegram channel Soniashnyklinked to Ukrainian aviation. The model is still in the operational testing phase and, according to the open sources cited by the media, The Russian Air Force has only six MiG-35s.
‘Enemy MiG-29s and even The MiG-35s have been participating in defense for quite some time against large-scale air attacks as part of the air defense system in the deep rear‘, the channel has pointed out. The information does not specify how many MiG-35s carry out these missions nor does it attribute specific actions to them.
The MiG-35 was publicly presented in 2017 and the Ministry of Defense Russian signed a supply contract in 2018with the first deliveries of production devices in 2019. However, the program has not made the leap to large-scale mass production nor has it abandoned the operational testing phase, which is compatible with carrying out real combat missions.
The six devices that the Ukrainian media counts are four single-seat MiG-35S and two two-seat MiG-35UB which can also be used to train pilots.
The MiG-35 family is derived from the MiG-29K/KUB and MiG-29M/M2 and include improvements in engines, electronics and weapons. According to manufacturer specifications UACthe plane measures 17.3 meters in length and 12 meters in size, reaches about 2,100 km/h at high altitude and can carry up to 6,500 kilos external load at nine anchor points. Uses two motors RD-33MK improved, with a declared useful life of up to 4,000 hours.
The MiG-35 also have a active electronic scanning radarknown as AESAable to follow up to 30 air targets at ranges of up to 160 kilometers and simultaneously attack six.
Its air-to-air weapons include R-73 short range, R-77 medium-range radar-guided and missile family R-27with medium and extended range versions.
Its participation in the war had already been announced by Russia in November 2023, when Sergei Korotkovgeneral designer of UAC, assured RIA Novosti that the MiG-35 intervened in operations while tests continuedbut at no time was it detailed whether it operated in the rear, as Militarnyi now points out, or on Ukrainian territory.